Catholic School Students Reflect on Pope Francis' 2015 NYC Visit

A Memorable Encounter

• 🎯 In 2015, Pope Francis visited Our Lady Queen of Angel School in East Harlem, an event described as a "rockstar welcome" for Catholic school students.
• 📌 Among those present was Cara Fragola, who asked the Pope to pray for her father, Robert, who had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

A Father's Recovery and Enduring Hope

• 💡 Weeks after meeting the Pope, Cara's father's cancer in his esophagus vanished, a recovery doctors could not explain.
• 💬 This unexpected turn provided Cara with hope and a sense of an answer to their prayers, extending her father's life nearly a year beyond predictions.

The "Divine Dozen" and Lasting Faith

• 🌟 Richard Poris was one of twelve honor students, nicknamed the "divine dozen," chosen to meet the Pope.
• 📿 Pope Francis gifted Richard a rosary, an object he cherishes and uses for prayer, reminding him of the encounter.
• 🤝 Richard recalls the Pope's humility in asking a high school student to pray for him, which left a profound impression.

A Foundation of Hope

• 💖 A decade later, the rosary beads are worn, but Richard's faith remains strong, built on a foundation of hope from that day in East Harlem.
• 🌍 The video also touches on broader tributes to Pope Francis and his global impact.